Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-16
SAUNDERSUNDEE ACLOUD
SOU THEEN CIGlVALRY VERSUS
NORTHERN ROBUSTNESS.

quot Conirnsted with the Way the
south Received the speech of Mr..
Grsdg.
NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-At dinner psr.
ty otlong ago Imet a man with rudy
face and gray eyes. His mou6tache aud
hair were silvereG with age. He was
massive of frame, sOldierly in bearing.
and extremely gentlemanly in demeanor.
Although we'll spoken, he accented his
words like an Englishman. His breast
WAS covered with military decorations,
and he wore the uniform OF the Old Guard.
He was Capt. 5. NJ. Saunders, agent of a
well-known French firm, and a familiar
figure among men about town. Genlality
Is enthroned in his eye, and sociablity IS
his prevalent characteristic. He is
widely known in New York city, and is
usually surrounded by score OF fre nds.
Protuse in hospitality, he deserves very
few enemies. Nor is he a fair weather
soldier. He won tame in the Union army
and he Is member of a crack Grand
Army post. A year ago the Captain
created great turore at a dinner in
Savannah. He made no set speech, bow.
ever. He gave simple toast in a grace
full manner. The effect was electric, men
mounted their chairs, waved their nap
kins and shouted themselves boaYse.
The turOre created by the company was
at feast given on the anniversary of the
organization of the oldest military COM
pany in Georgia. He appeared there in
full uniform 8 the representative OF the
Old Guard of this city. The Savannah
corps dated back to the Revolution. 1t
recalled the days of Pulaski, as the
name of the ancient and honorable artil-
lery of fostOn recalls the days OF War
rem, and that OF the Putnam Phalan
those of the rugged Cincinnatus of Con-
nectiCut.
1t was gala banquet. but Capt.
Saunders was not the only invited guest
The living mbodiment OF the Lost Cause
was there. The Hon. Jefferson DAVIS
sat at the right of the "'1irman. MIR. Da.
Wis was silent. For two weeks he had
ridden through the Cult States awaken
ing the echoes of the past and recalling
tender memories of The heroic dead
Three days nad De been in Savannah the
guest of the city and The shrine of South
ern devotion. The ex-Con !ederate Presi-
dent sat beneath the stars and stripes
surrounded by those who had renewed
their allegiance to the Union and VINO
were again ready to battle against its
enemies. With the cloth removed toasts
were given. Every eye was on Mr.. Davis.
DuCu UCdl Jii ObDGu iOI MN. CDepCl6S
were made eloquent and gave on scned-
uled topics, but no one touched upon tue
topic nearest the hearts OF those at the
tables. Ii may have been out of defer
ence to the Northern guests, or il may
have been through fear of being misun.
derstoOd and misrepresented by men
living north OF the old Mason and Dixon
line.
An hour or more passed. The proceed
fsaaw a &c Al
BODY was either lstless or uneasy. Mr.
Davis sat Idly playing with a nut-crack-
err, The old intellectual fire shOne In his
eyes, but great age mad whitened his
head and wrinkled his thin face. Sud
emily arose the soldier clad in the white
uniform of the Old Guard. Every eye
was upon him. The murmur of CONVEX
saton ceased. You could have heard a
pm drop. + ling a glass with cham
payne, the Captain bowed to the chair,
saying:
''Sir, if I NAV be permitted. desire to
propose the good health OF one who has
been teDderly loved by thousands who
are sleeping in lonely graves, who is
dearly loved by thuusa DIS who are vet
Il living. and who will be sincerely loved
by thousands yet unborn. | give you the
health of the Hon. Jefferson Dnvis!"
The scene that followed Henry Grady's
F..
II New England dinner bore no comparison
u to the scene that followed this toast.
Every heart beat revelle. The roar of
the ocean was heard. Napkins We're
waved and cheers were given until men
q fell into their chairs exhausted. The
INDOORS became filed with wondering la
&dles, and the eyes OF many Confederate
Veteran were filled with tears of JOY. A
Northern soldier mad given the toast
dearest every mans heart, and every
body was happy. A manly action had
Il lnade eacn man a man indeed, and
puppel el0quencs gave place to
tDe ell Quence OF the heart. Capt. oaund-
ers was congratulated 50 warmly that
BIS right should + acned. Ladies after
Ward wed with gentlemen IN testliying
her appreciation Of his manly courtesy.
II productions were sought at every point,
and the Captain became the lion OF the
DAY in Savannah. az Grady was after
ward the lion of the day in New York.
Now mark the difference. Grady called
Abraham Lincolr "a perfect embodiment
Of American manhood" Every Southern
new pappr re-echoed the sentiments eX
Dressed in his speech, and brass band
and magnificent banquet AWARDED him
on his return 20 Atlanta. Saunders
merely proposed the health OF Hon. JEFF
lerson Davis. lie was damned by two
thirds the Northern press and came very
near expulsion from the Grand Army
Host honored by his membership. No.
body proposed to run him for Vice Presi-
Dent OF the United States and be was not
Mentioned tor even Uuited S ates Sena-
prship. ON the contrary he was repeat
edy gwen the cold shoulder in public
resorts, and is to-day often reproachtully
pointed out as "the fellow who toasted
jefferson Davis" His terociOus vilitica-
hon after his return to New York fell un.
der toe eyeof Mr.. Davis himself, who
wrote him an exceedingly appropriate
Ietter, which the Captain cherishes as
X Measure. He paid his respects TO the
n Daughter of the C0niederacy while she
va here, and was received with marked
cordlality. The Captain however, has
innever regretted his acJun at the Sayan-
Xpah banquet. He says that time Will not
f{Qniy indicate but glorlfy him FOR IT.
pme, however. is acting very lesurely
10 the case. Al the annual excursion OF
INC hoboken Turtle Club last summer
~ enthusiastic veteran OF the Union
afmy propoee cd the health Of Capt. Saund
20. who YVES guest. Nearly holt OF the
cru responded. Then the veteran gave
VIC health Of the Hon. Jefferson Davis,
tne friend OF Capt. Saunders. No one
owed. The veteran and the Captain
Qrf ok the toast alone in worse than ST.
'frce. Grady's speech was timely. Tue
cohquered mar have forgiven the con-
querOrs, but it ~ clearly evident that The
4I1FNfH IN